Itinerary for My Next Trip to Japan

- On my next trip, i would like to visit when the cherry blossoms are blooming. Here else is some of the stuff I would like to do.

- Stay in a Machiya again
- go see the pearl divers
- See sumo wrestling match
- eat kobe beef
- see a samuri and/or ninja
- see a geisha
- tea ceremony
- travel in a rickshaw
- go to an onsen, a spa retreat - high end

In Tokyo
1) Visit the Snowdome museum and make one!
2) Stay in Shinjuku or perhaps a more upscale place - really liked the hotel though, very central and comfortable
3) Shibuya - People watching
- take a stroll in the afternoon to see all the teenager's outfits. Go to 109 Department store - a totally surreal mall for that cohort.
- Walk around on a saturday night It is the busiest neigborhood, famous for all the millions of people crossing the street.
3) Harajuku - People watching
- Walk down pedestrian only Harajuku street. (Sort of like St. Marks, NY through a looking glass.)
4) Go to Shingawa
5) Go back to Odaiba - the water front at dusk see the rainbow bridge, and ferris wheel (largest in the world)
6) Try/eat a okonomiyaki - translates to stuff you like, cooked together. It is a traditional way of eating where the table has a built-in-grill and you cook it yourself. It is across between a pizza and pancake.
7) go to the red light district see a little of the local color
8) go back to roppongi and mix with the ex-pats
9) go see the big Hello Kitty near the Isetan store, this is not to be confused with the Hello Kitty Precious section in the Isetan store itself. http://www.sanrio.co.jp/shoppinginjapan/english/shop/recommend.html#shop1
10) New York Bar in Park Hyatt - hotel from lost in translation. I am told that the view is amazing and expensive. Requires reservations. Drinks and appetizers are good.
11) Shinjuku park if cherry blossoms are blooming
12) Takashimaya food store
13) Lumine avoe south entrance, mocchi ice cream to die for.

Outside Tokyo
1) Ride the JR500, the fastest train in the world
Osaka - the Venice of Asia.
2) Kyoto - stay in the Gion district, explore more of the markets etc. Do not want to stay long though, felt very touristy.
3)Nara - biggest Buddha in the world
4) Nagano
5) Go back to Nikko - stay there
6) See Mt. Fuji - take a tram, the rope pulley
7) Beppu - supposedly the Las Vegas of Japan and very cheesy. Tutu and Grandfather went there.
8) Kamakura train station for the best saki, Taiyou zakari product of Niigata